Printing roller



July 1G, 1923. ll

T. REGENSTEINER PRINTING ROLLER Filed July 29 1922 27 f z? 2f v atented July 10, 1923.

THEODORE REGENSTEINER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PRINTING ROLLER.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, THnoDoRr. REGEN- sTEINER, a. citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, have invented `certain newA and useful Improvements in Printing Rollers, of which the following is a specification.

For carrying out what is known as rotary photogravure printing it has been suggested heretofore to provide a printing roller consisting of a cylindrical metal core upon which is frictionally held a tubular shell of copper having an original thickness of about half an inch. It has also been suggested to de sit copper electrically upon the core to a epth of from. say a quarter of an inch to half an inch thus also forming a relatively thick body of copper of tubular shape upon the core. The copper layer upon the core is then nicely surfaced to cylindrical shape and given a fine finish. A paper sheet having a gelatinous surface of sensitized material and containing photographic impressions is then applied to the roller and smoothed down tightly so as to adhere closely thereto, with the paper exposed, and the paper is then washed awa leaving the gelatinous substance defining the photographic impressions tightly' adhering to the roller. The surface of the roller is then etched with acid, and the roller may then be used for such photogravure work.

After a particular lpiece of photogravure printin is run off e press the roller is placed 1n a specially constructed grinding machine and the surface of the roller is ground awa till all trace of the previous etching has een removed.A After the grinding-down operation the desired smooth surface is restored by hand by means of charcoal blocks. The operation of restoring the surface is a long, laborious, and a necessarily expensive one in loss of time, labor and material. The original cost of the tubular copper and of a roller having the copper deposit upon it is also relatively great.

The principal objects of the present improvements are to provide means whereby a relatively thin sheet of copper may be employed for such work, and in an easy and convenient manner, to the end that a large amount of time and expense may be saved without loss of advantagev A specific object is to provide improved means whereby such a thin sheet of metal may be easily and Application led July 29, 1922. Serial No. 578,310.

quickly applied to and removed from the core.

Among the advantages of such a thin sheet of copper are the availability of copper in that form, the ease with which it may be handled,'the avoidance of the resurfacing operations, and the fact that after a particular job is printed the copper lsheet may be saved for further use, as is often desired, with a consequent having of much time and expense necessary to get such an etched impression upon a roller the second time.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure A1 is a face view of a printing roller in preferred form having one end of the copper sheet held and with its other end free and broken away; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary crosssection, on an enlarged scale, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end .view of the roller having the copper sheet thereon in its operative position; Fig. 4 is a face View showing a modified form of the wedge elements, the copper sheet being shown as torn apart and laid back at several places; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of one end of the roller with a face portion broken away; Fig, 6 is an enlarged perspective of one of the wedges shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5; Fig. 7-is a fragmentary view of an end portion of the coppe-r sheet; Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary views of end portions of the copper sheet showing one way to produce a continuous surface at the joint; Fig. 10 shows a modified form of the endportions of the sheet, and Fig. 11 shows a modified form of the joint.

The core 10 may be considered an iron casting mounted on a shaft 11. The .core is provided at one place with a longitudinal recess extending from end to end, the bottom wall of the recess being shown at 12, Fig. 2, one side wall thereof being shown at 13 and the other side wall thereof at 14. An anchoring block 15 is secured, as by screws 16, within this recess and against the wall 14. The block 15 has a plurality of rigid studs 17 extending therefrom into the recess mentioned. By making the block 15 a separate piece the machining of it and the application of the holding studs is facilitated.

A. tightening block 18 is also positioned within the core recess and it faces the block 15. A plurality of studs Q() rigid with the block 18 are directed toward the block 15.

The alternate studs 17 and 20 are shown equally spaced apart from end to end of the blocks. IThe block 18 has holes to receive the studs 17 and the block 15 has holes to receive the studs 20. rlhe two blocks 15 and 18 may therefore be brought closely against each other, and the block 18 will be locked by thestuds against outward movement.

Means for forcing the block 18 toward the block 15 are shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 as a pair of wedges 21 and 22, (Fig. 6) of equal length and substantially meeting each other end to end. Fach block 21 and 22 has a slanting surface on its side 23 adapted to fit against the undercut side wall 13 of the recess in the core, this construction providing simple means for locking the wedges against outward movement. The

f block 18 is provided with a rib or tongue 24,

and each Wedge member 21 and 22 is provided with a groove 25 accommodating the rib or tongue 24, this construction cooperating to hold the block 18 and the wedges against outward movement. The outer surfaces of the wedges and blocks respectively conform to the cylindrical surface of the periphery of the core.

From Fig. 1 it will be noted that the block 18 has its sides at 19, 19 tapered to conform with the taper of the wedges 21 vand 22, and that the undercut side wall 13 andthe interitting side walls o f the wedge y members are on straight-across lines.

It will also be observed from Fig. 1 that the block 18 and the block 15 meet each other on a line which is not straight-across but which is slightly diagonal from one end of the blocks respectively to the other.

The copper surfacing sheet 27 is shown as extending from end to end of the core. Each of its end portions is turned over substantially at right angles to provide ends 28 and 29, the length of the copper sheet being such that when these ends 28 and 29 are brought into abutment face to face, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the sheet will be drawn tightly upon the core. Each end 28 and 29 is provided with holes 30 (Fig. 7) spacedl apart to correspond with the spacing of the studs 17 and 20, the holes having substantially the diameter of the studs but suiciently larger that the studs may pass with a substantially good lit through them respectively, the holes 30 being so positioned with respect to the studs that when the studs pass through them respectively the sheet is held tightly upon .the outer peripheries respectively of the blocks 15 and 18.

The ends 28 and'29 of the copper sheet are turned over on lines having the directionl of the meeting'sides of the blocks 15 and 18, that is, the direction of the line 33, Fig. 1, so that when the ends 28 and 29 are brought together as in Figs. 2 and 3 their meeting faces will define a joint which is iframes not straight-across but is slantingly or diagonally directed from one end to the other.

To place the sheet 27 upon the core 10 the block 18 and the wedges 21 and 22 are removed and the end 28 of the sheet is placed in engagement with the studs 17 in the position shown in Fig. 1. Thereupon the block 18 is placed in the crotch of the bend'at the other end of the sheet with the studs 20 projecting through the holes (as 30 Fig. 7 in the turned-over end 29, and the block 18 carrying the en'd of the sheet isplaced substantially as shown by F ig. 2 with the studs 17 and 20 projecting through holes in vboth the ends 28 and'29 of the sheet and also into the holes in the opposite blocks res ctively. IThereupon the wedge members 2eand 22 are inserted and forced home, drawing the sheet tightly upon the core and the ends 28 and 29 together forming a tight joint.

After the copper sheet is thus positioned upon the core the etching process may be carried out as in the prior practice.

When the roller is being used in the printing press it rotates with its lower portion immersed in a receptacle containing ink in a substantially thin and liquid form, the surface of the copper becoming thereby heavily coated. As this coated surface travels upto the impression roller over which the pa per to be imprinted travels, and the paper -is pressed sufliciently into these inked recesses to receive ink therefrom and the reproduction is thereby made. Since the line 33, Fig. 1, showing the junction between the two ends of the copper sheet is not straight across, but is on a diagonal with respect to this wiper blade, the wiper rides over this junction smoothly and without an tendency to jump and thereby to mar its e ectiveness. The degree of diagonal of this junction line 33 may be very slight and still effect the desired purpose, an while the printed paper will show this line, unless the lit of the ends be made exceptionally well or unless some means are taken to make a continuous surface at the junction, this line will occur at marginal portions which are; v usually trimmed off in any event, vso thaty the resence of such a line upon the work wi l .be unimportant in most operations.

Should it be desired to make the ends as 28 and 29 abut each other with a continuous surface the slightly rounded corners at the bends respectively may be coated with solder or some other metal or alloy, as indicated at 38, Figs. 8 and 9, and the applied metal 38 parts respectively may be burnished so as substantially to blend into each other.

Another modification of the end construction is shown in Fig. wherein the ends 28 and 29a are shown as metal strips secured, as by brazing, to the under surfaces' of the ends'of the sheet 27. Accordino to this construction the parts may be fitted together to produce a very close joint. In Fig. 11 I have shown an auxiliary strip 39 tightly clamped between the ends 28 and 29. This strip 39 may be of copper or softer metal, and its outer edge may be burnished down t0 complete the cylindrical surface at the joint.

It is here pointed out-that the joint at the ends of the sheet as 27 'is an ink-proof one, and is liquid-proof as used. lf it were not ink-proof the ink would leak through the joint7 get between and around the sheetholding elements, get between the sheet and the core, ooze out at the edges and would creep and be thrown upon thework. While in some printing operations using a metal sheet the ends of the sheet may be even v widely spaced apart (and in connection with which the present sheet-holding means may advantageously be used), 1n the photogravure work mentioned the joint between the ends of the sheet must be a tight one. rlic-- cording to these improvements such a tight joint may be had without prejudice to the ready application of the impression sheet to l the core and its ready removal therefrom.

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Turning now to F ig. 4, the only material departure from the construction as already described consists of the provision, of two wedges and 36 which overlap each other from end to end. rlhe blocks 15a. and 18 may be considered as being like the blocks lo and 18 except for the side ot the block i8 which is shown as meeting the wedge 36 on straight-across lines.A i

For drawing the wedges out of their holding positions a screw-eye s() (Fig. 5) may be used. The screws si i, d and 6) are mere lillers intended to prevent the ink trom collecting in the screw holes provided tor the screw eyes as 4:0 and from being thrown thence upon the worin Reference should be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of the improvements herein set toi-th.

il claim:

1. .a printing roller ci the character described comprising in combination a cylindrical core, a thin and flexible sheet around the core, said sheet having continuous outer surface, and means for holding the end portions et the sheet in abutment with each other in a continuous line extending from one side edge oi the sheet to the other thereof and with the abutting ends readily separable from each other and with a substantially ink-tight. joint.

2. A printing roller of the character described comprising in combination a cylindrical core, a thin and flexible sheet around the core, said sheet having a continuous outer surface, and means for drawing the sheet tightly upon the core with end portions of the sheet abutting eachother on a continuous line extending from one side edge of the sheet to the other thereof and in readily-separable relation and forming a substantially ink-proof joint.

3. A. printing roller of the character described comprising in combination a cylindrical core, a thin and exible sheet around the core, each of the two end portions of the sheet being bent over inward from the periphery of the sheet, the sheet having a continuous outer surface between end por@ tions thereof where bent over, and means for holding the sheet upon the core with an ink-tight, joint, the bent over end por tions at the bends forming abutment surfaces of such joint and being free from each Otl'le';

d. A printing roller of the character' de scribed, comprising in combination a'cylin drical core, a thin and flexible sheet around the core, each of the two end portions of the sheet being bent over inward from the continuous outer surface between end portions thereo where bent over, and means for drawing the sheet tightly apen the core with the bent over end portions .of the sheet at the bends abutting each other and forming an ink-tight joint on a continuous linc from one side edge of the sheet to the other.

5. A printing roller of the character described comprising in combination a cylindrical core, a thin and dexible sheet around the core, each of the two end portions of the sheet being bent over inward. rffrom'the periphery of the sheet, and means :tor drawing the sheet tightly upon the core with the bent over end portions oi the sheet abutting each other and forming .einlassen-n tially an ink-proof joint on lines diagonal to lines which are straight across the periphery of the roller.

o. A printing roller ci? the character de scribed comprising in combination a cylindrical core, a 'thin and eaible sheet around y the core, the core having a recess in its peripheral surface extending longitudinally of the core, the sheet having its two end portions bent over so as to lie within said recess, means for holding one of said end porllt) ing longitudinally of the core and associated with said other end portion for directing tightening strains thereagainst to move said other end portion toward the relativel fixed end portion.

7. printing roller of the character described comprising in combination a cylindrical core, athin and exible sheet around the core, the core having a longitudinal recess in its peripheral surface, the ends of the sheet being bent over and projecting into said recess, means including a plurality of 4projecting substantially circumferentially irected studs adapted to engage one bent-over end portion for holding the same in a. substan-` tially relatively-fixed position to withstand tightening strains directed against the other bent-overend portion, 'and means including a plurality of substantially cireumferentially directed studs adapted to eng-age said ripheral surface, end members on the ends of the sheet respectively, said end members pro'ecting into said recess, and means in. clu ing oppositel -disposed substantially eircumferentially directed studs passing respectively through both end members in said recess for drawing one end member toward the other thereof to bind the sheet a5 tightly upon "the core.

THEODORE REGENSTEINER. 

